Huh. I wonder if that’s how Roland felt when he signed away his paternal rights.
We’ve never discussed the circumstances surrounding my conception or his fleeing. From what I gather, in our earliest meetings, my mom instructed Roland to not try to explain away anything, to just not talk about my birth at all. He’s stayed true to her wishes—asking only to get to know me as I am now, as an adult. Not what I was then. Whenever we would meet, we’d talk about school, sports…you know, all things you’d discuss with a long-distance relative or friend of the family.
“I’m looking forward to starting classes tomorrow,” I say in an attempt to start a conversation rather than flailing helplessly in one.
As we reach the top of the stairs and head for the exit, Bridgette asks, “What’s everyone’s first class tomorrow?”
“Old Testament,” I answer.
Though it’s a freshman class, I’m nervous. I don’t know anything about the Old Testament after Adam and Eve. Maybe some book names. Exodus? Yes, that’s definitely in the Old Testament. Romans?
Sigh.
I hope Jesus Camp isn’t a prerequisite of for this class, or I might as well not show up.
“Me, too,” Eden adds. “Jonah’s got that, too, I think.”
Of course.
Bridgette giggles. “How perfect.”
“You shush,” Eden commands as her cheeks grow red.
I put my hand on the door to escape the House of Roland, when I hear a familiar voice call up the stairs.
“Kennedy!” I turn to find Maggie, my RA, racing up the stairs after me.
“Hi. I didn’t know you were here this morning.”
She waves her hand. “RAs are required to hear the message their floor charges hear, in case you have questions or whatever. Anyway, Pastor Roland wants to see you.”
My lips part and my cheeks sting with heat. “What? Why?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. He just asked me to catch up with you.”
“I…” I look around at my friends—for lack of a better term—and find a mix of envy, curiosity, and suspicion—brought to us by Joy—on their faces. “Okay.” I sigh and follow Maggie back toward the stage.
“I’ll save you a seat!” Bridgette shouts as I’m halfway down the stairs.
I turn back around, giving her a thumbs-up and a smile before resuming my march.
“What’s this about?” I ask Maggie.
“Don’t be nervous,” she says in a comforting tone, since I’ve already asked that question once. “He’s just a regular guy.”
“Right.” I nod and take a deep breath, reminding myself that Maggie would naturally assume I was nervous about meeting a church superstar.
By now the crowds have thinned and the stage is empty, save for the crew, who are setting up for the next service, and the band, who are still engaged in discussion with Jonah and a couple of other students. Roland is over at the stand, retrieving his iPad. He looks up and smiles at me and Maggie.
“Here she is, sir.”
Roland nods. “Thank you, Maggie. I promise to return her in one piece,” he jokes and she laughs before disappearing backstage.
Still wishing I had pockets—must look for long skirts with pockets—I cross my arms in front of me.
“So…” I shrug and remind myself to keep a smile on. There are too many eyes around; I don’t need anyone thinking I’m disrespecting an esteemed member of their faith community.
Our faith community.
Roland tilts his head to the side a fraction before licking his lips and swallowing. “I’d like to have lunch with you.”
“Naturally,” I scoff and roll my eyes.
“Kennedy.” He takes one step closer and it’s all I can do not to take one back in response.
“Careful,” I whisper. “People are around.” My eyes dart across the stage and land on Jonah, who happens to be eyeing me intensely.
I imagine that to the outside world it must look like I’m being scolded. Reprimanded for my dress or hair or some other detail I don’t have quite right just yet. I wish that were the case.
Roland tucks his iPad under his arm. “I know. Please come to my home.”
“Where’s that?” I look to my shoes for a moment—leather mary janes—needing a break from his sympathetic features.
He hesitates for a moment, as if he hasn’t understood my question. “On the New Life grounds…” he trails off as if he’s waiting for recognition from me.
He gets it. “Oh, right.” I clear my throat and look up. “I forgot that…just…right.”
I know that. I know that he lives in a rather grand estate on the New Life property built for the presiding pastor. I also know that he resides alone, having no wife or other children (that I know of) to speak of. He’s allowed to marry in this faith, and to have children and all of that, but he doesn’t. And I wonder why.
“Okay, let’s go,” I agree. How else will I find answers to the questions that led me to Carter in the first place? “Do I walk there? Does the bus go—”
Roland chuckles lightly, like I saw him do with members of the faculty earlier. “No, we’ll take my car.”
Jesus Freaks: Sins of the Father
Andrea Randall's books
- Sacred Sins
- Sins and Scarlet Lace
- Sins of a Ruthless Rogue
- Bed of Roses
- Son Of The Morning
- Cover Of Night
- Affairs of State
- A Profiler's Case for Seduction
- Because of Rebecca
- Conflict of Interest
- Eclipse of the Heart
- Flames of Attraction
- Illusions of Love
- Keeper of the Moon
- Keeper of the Shadows
- Legacy of Love
- Love Proof (Laws of Attraction)
- Miles of Pleasure
- Of One Heart
- Off Limits
- Off Sides
- Out of the Dark (The Brethren Series)
- Out of the Depths
- Pool of Crimson
- Prince of Wolves
- Rules of Entanglement
- Shadow of My Heart
- Something of a Kind
- Son of a Preacher Man
- Taste of Desire
- Taste of Love
- Translation of Love
- Web of Deception
- Words of Love
- The Lady of Bolton Hill
- The Scars of Us(Scars Series)
- Dreams of Lilacs
- House of Ivy & Sorrow
- A Question of Honor
- The Owner of His Heart
- The Heir of the Castle
- Tower of Glass
- The Last Prince of Dahaar
- Terms of Engagement
- Secrets of a Bollywood Marriage
- David Lord of Honor
- Return of the Prodigal Gilvry
- Killing Me Softly(A Broken Souls Series)
- Starting Over(Hart of Seattle)
- The Resurrection of Aubrey Mill
- OFF SIDES
- Confessions of a Royal Bridegroom
- Stolen: Warriors of Hir, Book 3
- The CEO Buys in (Wager of Hearts #1)
- The Law of Moses
- A Pound of Flesh (A Pound of Flesh #1)
- Arouse: A Spiral of Bliss Novel (Book One)
- Awaken: A Spiral of Bliss Novel (Book Three)
- The Art of French Kissing
- Leo (A Sign of Love Novel)
- Echoes of Scotland Street
- Stinger (A Sign of Love Novel)
- Ten Days of Perfect (November Blue #1)
- The Song of David
- The House of the Stone
- Ashes of Honor: An October Daye Novel
- The Weight of Feathers
- Blood Brothers
- Face the Fire
- Holding the Dream
- The Hollow
- The way Home
- A Father's Name
- All the Right Moves
- After the Fall
- And Then She Fell
- A Mother's Homecoming
- All They Need
- Behind the Courtesan
- Breathe for Me
- Breaking the Rules
- Bluffing the Devil
- Chasing the Sunset
- Feel the Heat (Hot In the Kitchen)
- For the Girls' Sake
- Guarding the Princess
- Happy Mother's Day!
- Meant-To-Be Mother
- In the Market for Love
- In the Rancher's Arms
- Leather and Lace
- Northern Rebel Daring in the Dark
- Seduced The Unexpected Virgin
- Southern Beauty
- St Matthew's Passion
- Straddling the Line
- Taming the Lone Wolff
- Taming the Tycoon
- Tempting the Best Man